VLCV Legislative Wrap Up
Each year the Vermont League of Conservation Voters works in the Vermont state house advocating for strong environmental legislation. There were several main areas that we focused our attention this year, including:
- Vermont's Clean Energy Future
- Vermont's Working Landscapes and Smart Growth Values
- Transportation in the 21st Century
- Waste Management
To view the outcome for each area of focus, please review our 2009 Legislative Overview
Vermont Legislative Issues
Vermont’s State House houses a unique citizen legislature where anyone can serve and in that process make a difference.
The Legislature is comprised of 150 Representatives in the House chamber and 30 Senators in the Senate chamber. Together these two legislative bodies make decisions on a wide range of issues that affect our health, economy, and way of life.
The Vermont Legislature meets each Tuesday through Friday during the legislative session, which runs from early January through late April. The adjournment date varies from year to year, but in general the Legislature tries to complete its work in sixteen or seventeen weeks.
The Issues
VLCV facilitates the development of the Environment and Conservation Platform for each legislative session. The Platform reflects the Vermont Environmental Collaborative (VEC) view of what the most pressing environmental issues are for our state. The VEC consists of 14 statewide environmental organizations. The priorities from 2009 and 2010 will be included in the VLCV Scorecard at the end of the biennium.
Read more about VEC
February, 2009 - VLCV's Environmental Priorities Legislative Breakfast
On February 6th, at the Vermont State House, VLCV brought together the leading environmental organizations that make-up the VEC, calling for the Vermont Legislature to address climate change and plan for Vermont's energy future, continue our long tradition of land conservation and smart growth, ensure that our transportation dollars are used to "Fix-It-First" as well as improve access to public transportation, increase opportunities for Vermonters to travel by foot or bicycle, and move towards zero waste by supporting programs that will increase recycling and composting.
The VEC shares a common goal of working with one another and Vermont's elected leaders to preserve the quality of life in Vermont for its people, and to protect Vermont’s natural resources by advocating for a common agenda of environmental legislative priorities.
The 2009 breakfast was a huge success. It is clear that Representatives and Senators, regardless of their party affiliation, are taking the protection of Vermont's natural resources seriously.
VLCV would like to thank all the legislators that took the time to attend VLCV's Legislative Breakfast and talk with Vermont's leading environmental advocates.
Please click here to view the Platform and to view photos from the 2009 Legislative Breakfast.